Once again Vibrant Nation has scheduled retreats that are not accessible to the average person. Last time I brought this up I received a response saying that VN was looking for ways to make the retreats more financially accessible. Looks like you guys gave up on that idea. With almost $1500 to register plus airfare to Utah (hard place to find a decent airfare) you are once again, shutting out the average girl who just doesn’t have that kind of cash lying around. Not only for the next retreat but the one following that! What’s up with all this?
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Permalink: http://www.vibrantnation.com/other-topics/travel/vn-retreat-part-ii-and-iii/
p.s. I dropped your name on Gina's post, Barb. ;)
Why Utah? I agree that VN is shutting out the lionshare of its readers. Who in this economy can afford $1500 dollars? This is ridiculous.
Apparently many can…just not us. See the second response from Marilyn. Glad everyone had a great time….Has anyone ever had a BAD time at a destination spa? LOL
Yes, exactly. An expensive, luxurious spa resort (even with discounted group rates) is simply beyond most of our budgets – except maybe the published authors or other people who have really healthy incomes.
I definitely agree, though, that for those who can afford that type of retreat, it would be all but impossible to not have a wonderful experience and give VN glowing reports later on just how wonderful it was. I’d love to be able to go to a retreat at a luxurious spa. Unfortunately, I’d have to rob a bank first.
They probably are wonderful retreat spa’s. I personally might even consider a lovely expensive 3 day spa, but it just doesn’t make any sense to travel so far for it.
And neither would I go to a spa to sit and listen to any speaker, of any sort.
A spa is a spa. If I go to a spa I want to be totally blissed out. ha ha
Well, the nice part is they are trying to come up with something for the rest of us…it sort of feels like being chosen last for volleyball when we were in gym class! LOL We’ve been asked to submit ideas…so do it if you have some. I agree – if I’m at a spa, I’m at a SPA – nothing else…
Thank you for mentioning VN’s retreats, AuntieM. We are working out the details for one-day gatherings in several U.S. cities. Once we have secure dates, we’ll announce those on the site. We hope you’ll be able to attend!
Participants in our first spa retreat at Red Mountain were very happy with their experience at the resort, and other VN members told us they would love to attend if they had more time to plan the trip. That’s why we went ahead and scheduled two more spa retreat weekends and announced the dates so far in advance.
As always, we’re working very hard to make sure ALL of our members have an opportunity to gather and talk to other VN members in person.
I hope you do one in NY (that’s where I live). I am on a tight, tight, tight budget and as much as I would love to attend one of your retreats – I JUST CAN’T AFFORD IT!!! Please keep us abreast of any one-day retreats. If I can afford it and if it’s in NY – I’M THERE!!!
I discovered something very interesting in 2007. It costs we Mid-westerners and the East-coasters more than twice as much to fly West as it costs us to fly North, South or East. That might be something to keep in mind in order to bring down the cost for VN’ers who don’t live in the Western part of the country.
And even then I doubt I could fit a “spa retreat weekend” into our fixed-income budget on top of the vacations my husband and I already take together every year. If the retreat could be anywhere other than an expensive spa-type setting I’d sure try hard, though.
every time I click on the page it doesn’t have a link. whoooohooo…….wow, $1500 just for the retreat part? pricey! Plus air? You kidding?
Thanks for your comments – don’t think we aren’t listening!
Because we realize these events are expensive, we work hard to negotiate the best possible rates for them – and we are simultaneously planning more affordable events for our members.
We are just about to announce our first series of regional, one-day events for VN members. Stay tuned (soon!) for an email announcing those events. Please share any specific ideas about how to make any and all VN events successful for all our members.
We always appreciate comments and suggestions from our members, and hope we will be able to see you at a VN event before long!
I don’t want to beat a dead horse or belabor this point endlessly. I appreciate that you are listening.
Over the years I have been to some amazing women’s conferences..none were at spas (most of the venues had spa services if you wanted them)
VN should consider why this website was initiated in the first place. It brings women together. It’s a place to talk over concerns or problems in a safe anonymous environment. It allows us to explore ideas with other women and to exercise our creativity. It gives us a chance to be heard. It’s also a place to have fun. Age, color, social status, political leanings and religion do not matter here. If you can’t build accessible events around that, then please don’t build any at all.
Yes it seems that VN is trying to bring people together. Have you ever tried to plan a event? Well if you had then you surely would realize that you CANNOT please everyone, no matter the cost or budget. VN reaches the world and picking a location that would be affordable for everyone is impossible. This spa retreat is just that, a spa retreat. I am sure they will plan some non-spa conferences but until then the trip is a spa atmosphere and it must have been well received for them to be doing this again.
I would love to go to this retreat-it sounds spectacular! Can I afford to go, no, but that does not mean I need to berate VN for choosing to go to this location again. I only hope there WILL be an opportunity for me to attend an event in the future. I am from a smaller area in the south so flying anywhere is hard to do. I am sure VN will work toward pleasing and accommodating more people. Judging from the comments there seems to be plenty of interest in trying to have other type of gatherings.
I planned events for years. I know this. You can’t please everyone. BUT you can change things up a bit each time to make an event more accessible to more people…or different people. Locations can move around the country so that eventually everyone has a crack at getting together somewhere. Just like we do on this website.
I think there is a difference between “berating” and taking the time to point out something that has been pointed out before. VN can do what it wants…hold retreats wherever it wants…but this wonderful website envelops women from all walks of life not just women who can afford expensive spa retreats. And retreats do not have to be “spa” retreats all the time.
‘Nuff said…gotta go live my life! Have a good day and thanks for the comments.